A series of Bollywood actresses are coming forward with stories about sexual harassment in India’s film industry, but there are scant hopes the #metoo movement will be embraced.

Tanushree Dutta is the latest actress to speak out about the so-called ‘casting couch’ mentality in Bollywood.

She alleges a famous Indian actor, Nana Patekar, came on set while she was filming a dance scene in a 2008 movie, asked to be included in the scene and demanded that ‘vulgar’ dance moves were included in the dance, including a movement where he lay on top of her.

Patekar’s lawyers have accused her of making up the claims.

She first voiced her complaints at the time of filming and was chased off set one night by a mob of men who jumped on and smashed the windows of her car.

Dutta has not had any film roles since then, and has emigrated to the US.

A decade later, she’s repeating her story in the hope people will believe her, and she’s gained support on social media.

#Metoo only works in Hollywood, Bollywood actress says

Swara Bhasker is a Bollywood actress who has spoken out in support of women.

She told local media women in the Indian film industry have even less power than young Hollywood actresses.

“It is just so much more convenient to silence the victim by convincing or coercion and carry on with the day’s work,” she said.

“These easy-breezy comparisons to #metoo in Hollywood may make people feel more righteous but they fail to recognise the particular power structures that operate in Bollywood.”

Bollywood is dominated by family and personal connections.

Unlike in Hollywood, where actors can come up through the ranks via a more formal process involving film schools, auditions and acting on stage, Bollywood film roles are more often given to youngsters with the right connections.